Internet Archive's in-browser audio "theater" requires JavaScript to be enabled. It appears your browser does not have it turned on. Please see your browser settings for this feature.

Philo Vance - Single Episodes

by: Old Time Radio Researchers Group

Publication date: 2007-05-24

Usage: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs

Topics: OTRR, Old Time Radio Researchers Group, Old Time Radio, OTRR Single Episodes, Philo Vance, Detective, OTRR Updated Release, OTRR - 2007-05

PHILO VANCE
Philo Vance was the detective creation of S. S. Van Dine first published in the mid 1920s. Vance, in the original books, is an intellectual so highly refined he seems he might be ghostwritten by P. G. Wodehouse. Take this quote from The Benson Murder Case, 1924, as Vance pontificates in his inimitable way: "That's your fundamental error, don't y' know. Every crime is witnessed by outsiders, just as is every work of art. The fact that no one sees the criminal, or the artist, actu'lly at work, is wholly incons'quential." Thankfully, the radio series uses only the name, and makes Philo a pretty normal, though very intelligent and extremely courteous gumshoe. Jose Ferrer played him in 1945. From 1948-1950, the fine radio actor Jackson Beck makes Vance as good as he gets. George Petrie plays Vance's constantly impressed public servant, District Attorney Markham. Joan Alexander is Ellen Deering, Vance's secretary and right-hand woman. The organist for the show is really working those ivories, and fans of old time radio organ will especially enjoy this series. Perhaps one reason the organist "pulls out all the stops" is because there seems to be little, if any, sound effects on the show. Philo Vance, the radio series, does pay homage to the original books in that both were, even in their own time, a bit out of date and stilted. From the Old Time Radio Researcher's Group. See "Note" Section below for more information on the OTRR.
Updated with Version 2 Files on 24-May-2007

Notes

OLD TIME RADIO RESEARCHER'S GROUP

This is a production of the Old Time Radio Researchers Group located at Old Time Radio Researchers Website and the Old Time Radio Researchers Group.

It contains the most complete and accurate version of this series in the best sound possible at the time of creation. An updated version will be issued if more episodes or better sounding ones become available.

If you are interested in preserving old time radio, you may wish to join the Old Time Radio Researchers Group at Yahoo.

This is the Single Episode Page. The Certified Set includes extras not found here. It is located at OTRR Certified Set. This page is provided in case you want to sample the shows.

Note that in many cases, file names have been modified from the original OTRR names to conform to archive.org naming requirements.

Relax, listen, and enjoy!

OTRR Definitions:

OTRR Certified Accurate -- A series that is Certified Accurate indicates that all the episodes are properly identified and labeled but that the series does not contain all known extant episodes.

OTRR Certified Complete -- A series that is Certified Complete is the highest level of certification available under the OTRR Certified Standards. This certification level implies that all the files in the series are Certified Accurate but also indicates that the series is as complete as possible – it includes all extant episodes.

Addeddate: 2006-07-22 00:31:45

Boxid: OL100020404

External_metadata_update: 2019-04-15T21:40:04Z

Identifier: OTRR_Philo_Vance_Singles

plus-circle Add Review

comment
Reviews

Reviewer: Den NC USA - - April 7, 2023
Subject: A Classic Example of Old Time Radio ...

For the serious, yes, Philip Marlowe is the best, as is Gerald Mohr. ( And Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar).
The music on Philip Marlowe is great. All perfect as it gets on the hot-tube radios of old.
Philo Vance often sounds more like late 30's radio... because Philo Vance was already from "the old days" in the 40's...Film Noir was the mood of many returning vets, and the War Effort was serious stuff... I do enjoy the interplay of Vance with Markham. Some cases are gritty and have some fine city toughs and dames. The unheralded actors in these old radio series really worked at their craft, writers too...and occasionally the action is gritty.
The organ "stings"? and the before and after commercials... it can be obtrusive and odd to modern ears.
This show's like Boston Blackie...or a host of others with an organist never far away. .
As for the download, I had no problem...opened fine. The sound quality is generally fine.
Note also the short timings are incorrect, as you can see if you play one with the player above. Ignore the odd two or three minutes... these are (except when really noted) are the normal half-hour without commercials.
Lastly, you can go to
https://archive.org/details/OTRR_Certified_Philo_Vance and do the zip of the "2 CD" download.

Reviewer: packy1949 - - December 14, 2020
Subject: meh

for those of you who cannot download these episodes...... you ain't missing much

Reviewer: Ronzzz - - November 29, 2020
Subject: Philo Vance #58

Number 58 has an echo in the background that overtakes the broadcast..., Thought I'd let you know

Reviewer: gnumedia - - September 8, 2020
Subject: Good Entertainment

Miss Deering is actually given decent lines instead of being the usual vapid and imbecilic foil for Mr Big.
Sadly but typically, the organist has not been credited for his sometimes heavy handed contributions. Geez-some of those chord choices! However difficult for us more contemporary listeners, it is part of the history of this wonderful genre; more, please.

Reviewer: Child of the 50s - - July 17, 2020
Subject: can the organ

I like the stories and most of the acting, but after listening to "The Midget Murder Case," I'm left with with a question and an answer. Can the organ be any more irritating? My advice: Can the organ!!

Reviewer: MPOEye - - September 12, 2017
Subject: Running times.

As for the show, I love it; however, what's with all the mistakenly listed running times of less than three minutes? Actually, all of the shows run for their full lengths!

Reviewer: AMC Hornet - - November 22, 2016
Subject: albie - if you've run out....

consider trying a new take on an old genre. Decoder Ring Theater's Black Jack Justice is a really good reimagining/homage to the 1940s hard-boiled detective radio shows. Excellent writing, and digital sound quality. Like most radio shows, vintage or modern, the first ones aren't the best. It gets better and better as the actors settle in:

http://decoderringtheatre.com/shows/black-jack-justice/

Reviewer: albie - - November 21, 2016
Subject: Philo Vance - Single Episodes

I've been listening to this show recently, it's OK not great but listenable.I've got the same problem as many here after 17 years I've run out of the shows I know and am trying new ones, from time to time I find one.I'm mainly interested in the crime/detective type programs.

Reviewer: harron68 - - October 24, 2015
Subject: Philo, Naked

I'm not used to shows without ads or announcers or a melodic theme. The series has good plotting but seems to have been made on a budget. Organ music is a bit jarring. Acting is good, all in all above par for detective shows of the era.

Reviewer: TubeRadio - - May 14, 2015
Subject: Philo Is Great

I have never been a fan of the old dumb cop vs detective theme, and that is one of the reasons why I like Philo Vance so much. Philo is a smart detective, not given to emotional outbursts and works well with the police.

Reviewer: foxyryan - - May 13, 2015
Subject: I love this program

I love a detective story this is entertaining worth listening to.

Reviewer: jonfrum - - May 3, 2013
Subject: I wish these were better

For context, I'm a big Philip Marlowe/Sam Spade OTR fan. This series just doesn't work for me. I listened to a few episodes, and the quality of the writing just isn't up to Marlowe/Spade snuff, and nor is the acting. The cop in the series is of the Hollywood variety - painfully inept. Every episode I listened to ran the same stereotype into the ground. I wanted to like this series, but just can't recommend it.

Reviewer: nokneesOTRguy - - January 4, 2013
Subject: Use link for OTRR Certified Set

The zipped download file on this page expands to only 3 episodes. You can listen to all series episodes individually. To download all episodes use the OTRR Certified Set link in the Notes section. Takes you to an OTRR page where you can download 653.8 MB and 666.9 MB Zip files. I'll rate the series after listening to more episodes. Not sure how I'll respond to OTR with a great organist but few sound effects.

Reviewer: Cyberflyer - - January 4, 2013
Subject: Short previews?

For some reason the majority of episodes are 3 minures long --not enough to get to the intro.

Reviewer: CKershner - - October 29, 2008
Subject: Download error

I would love to review Philo Vance as a whole but so far have been unable to complete a download of all files so I can listen off-computer. Get about 130 mb and then an error message the file cannot be expanded. If this happened once, I could understand; but it has happened with every download attempt. Anyone else experience the same problem?

362,954 Views

192 Favorites

15 Reviews